Over 300 recycling stations support with new Workplace Recycling Legislation in hospitals

1st April 2026

From Monday 6 April, new Workplace Recycling Legislation will come into effect across hospitals in Wales. The legislation was introduced within all other workplaces in Wales in 2024, whilst hospitals were given a two‑year extension due to their scale and complexity.

To prepare, the Waste Management Team from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has been working hard to identify the most effective places for new recycling bins across wards, public spaces and facilities.

James Randall-Bromley, Head of Waste Compliance and Recycling, explained: “We’ve been preparing by reviewing every area to understand the types and volumes of waste produced. Mixed‑recycling bins will no longer be compliant, so we are replacing them with the required waste streams – paper and card; plastics, metals and cartons; non‑recyclable waste; and, where suitable, food waste and glass. Bin placement is being carefully planned to ensure the right bin is in the right place, supporting visitors, patients and staff.”

More than 300 new recycling stations will be introduced across the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) and University Hospital Llandough (UHL). The purchasing of these stations follows a successful two‑month pilot on Wards C5 and C6 at UHW.

Ward C5 trialled a new recycling station featuring colour‑coded lids with shaped openings, while Ward C6 acted as a control ward, using traditional labelled pedal bins.

The waste from both wards was analysed daily, and the trial later expanded to the busy UHW concourse to test performance in a public setting.

James called the results ‘highly encouraging’:

• The new recycling stations had an average contamination rate of 11.2%.
• Traditional re-labelled pedal bins saw far higher contamination at 46%.
• Most contamination in the new stations occurred only in the non‑recyclable waste bin, showing that users were successfully identifying the correct recycling apertures.

On the strength of these findings, 311 new recycling stations will be installed across UHW and UHL in March and April. 
 

Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid Commercial Products: James Randall-Bromley (centre) with members of the Waste Management team and Rubbermaid team on delivery of the recycling stations.